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Duets shine on lackluster American Idol

By April MacIntyre May 12, 2010, 20:05 GMT

04/24/2010 - Michael Lynche and Crystal Bowersox - "Shrek Forever After" in 3D Los Angeles Premiere - Arrivals - The Grove Shopping Center - Los Angeles, CA, USA © Salpi Bezdjian / PR Photos

Last night's "Idol" theme for the Top 4 on American Idol was songs from the movies, with mentor Jamie Foxx helping out.

It would have been nice if a producer had hipped the judges (Simon I am talking to you) on what movies the contestants were to draw from, and maybe had sent the British import a quick YouTube tutorial via email on what "Caddyshack" is!

How can you not have seen "Caddyshack"?

The individual performances were flat, as Lee DeWyze stumbled with "Kiss From the Rose on the Grave."  His biggest fan Randy Jackson says he didn't do anything with the song, and it was just "OK." Ellen DeGeneres' kiss of death was "you're so good." Kara DioGuardi noted the bad arrangement, and Simon Cowell said it was a karaoke performance.

Michael Lynche sang "Will You Be There." Randy didn't love this for him, Ellen thinks it was a little predictable. Kara wanted goosebumps land it didn't happen. Simon is hamstrung by "Free Willy," the film was explained to him,then he tells Mike the song didn't hearken the whale (he never saw, in the film).

All a PA had to do was email Cowell a few videos and none of these embarrassing moments would have happened to make Cowell look like Andy Rooney.

The first duet of the evening is Lee and Crystal Bowersox who together mesmerized with "Falling Slowly" from the film "Once."

Randy says this was GREAT. Ellen says they are the new Captain and Tennile. Kara says best moments of the whole season. Simon says he would call it a fantastic song.

Then Casey James did "Mrs. Robinson." Randy goes there with the Kara older woman running joke since the auditions and Ellen says she wishes they would have given him a big-boy guitar. Kara says this is him fighting to stay in the competition, so she thinks it was a good choice, which makes the rest of the panel laugh. Simon was 'meh.'

Crystal sings from ICONIC AMERICAN COMEDY "Caddyshack" - the ditty "I'm All Right." Randy liked that she switched it up to make it fit her. Ellen says she made that song better. Kara declares, "ARTIST! ARTIST! ARTIST!" Simon says he isn't going to ask what that movie is about, but he definitely thinks she is back in the game. 

Was Bowersox ever OUT of the game? Odd comments out of Sir Simon's gob last night.

Casey and Mike duet with "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman." Terrific performance that has Randy showing the love, Ellen quips 'yes, she has loved a woman.' Kara says the duets tonight were incredible. Simon thinks all the duets were a million times better than the solos.

Agreed, the duets shone and the solo performances laid flat like Jamie Foxx's last album.

So, Casey James, is he a goner tonight?

Simon, check out Rodney in fine form in 'Caddyshack":